Major sovereign wealth fund investors to gather at Dubai event

Over 100 institutional investors from around the world, such as sovereign wealth funds, pension funds and family groups, as well as senior management of major companies from the Middle East and Africa, will gather to discuss their growth funding and competitive strategies at an upcoming conference in Dubai.

Arqaam Capital, a specialist emerging markets investment bank, has announced that it is hosting the Arqaam Capital Gulf Cooperation Council and Africa Investors conference on September 22 and 23 at the Meydan Hotel in Dubai.

Listed companies from banking real estate retail and telecom will be among the sectors represented at the conference.

ERC EK Holding Fidson Healthcare Co-operative Bank of Kenya KNCB and Fidelity are among the corporates attending the conference.

As well as one-on-one investor meetings, the event will see panel discussions and keynote speeches covering areas of interest to investors and corporates including a panel chaired by officials from exchange authorities, who will discuss a number of vital topics such as deregulation of foreign ownership IPO pipeline and foreign access to local exchanges.

”The Middle East and Africa equity markets have had an incredible run over the past 12 months significantly outperforming the MSCI Emerging Markets Index,” Riad Meliti CEO of Arqaam Capital said.

“We are confident that the economic fundamentals underpinning the region’s recent performance will ensure that this is not just a short-term blip but the start of long-term sustainable growth.”

Meliti said changes in the region’s markets has seen more blue-chip companies looking to invest.

“In this low interest rate environment investors are looking for healthy returns on their capital and there is a real appetite from them to increase their exposure to our region’s markets.

“Furthermore, with the UAE and Qatar being upgraded to Emerging Market status by MSCI, blue-chip institutions and funds from around the world will be increasing their allocations to both countries,” he said.

Meliti said the conference will allow investors an opportunity to learn more about the region’s major companies.

“Investor sentiment toward the region has not been this strong for a long time and this conference will provide the perfect environment for global investors to learn more about some of the region's leading companies,” he added.